Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Topher Brennan (he/they) @topherbrennan.bsky.social · 1m

Yeah, if none of the you want to use LLMs for fit that bill, I'm not sure any amount of "investment in learning this too" is going g to pay off for you.

Topher Brennan (he/they) @topherbrennan.bsky.social · 10m

A lot of the AI hate in here is dumb but Wolfers' framing is a bit simplistic. I've put in a fair amount of effort and had very limited success getting ChatGPT to do things that aren't "coding"—I think coding works because I can run the code to confirm it's good (or find bugs I ca troubleshoot).

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Topher Brennan (he/they) @topherbrennan.bsky.social · 22m

Ah, that's probably fair. I actually found myself wondering if he was a theater kid (in spite of already knowing about his mother) but you're right that some of that stuff probably rubs off.

Topher Brennan (he/they) @topherbrennan.bsky.social · 27m

I read it as suggesting literal formal training in the performing arts, and I'm unclear to what extend this is true (in spite of his brief music career).

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 1d

[low whistle]

Distinguished Herbert West Fellow, Miskatonic Institute Gigan @gigansprogress.bsky.social · 1d

How much more illegal can we get? lets find out together!
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...

FBI agents will get paid despite government shutdown, Patel says

The Trump administration will continue paying FBI agents despite the ongoing government shutdown that has frozen paychecks for nearly all federal workers, FBI Director Kash Patel announced.

www.cbsnews.com

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

timoconnorbl.bsky.social @timoconnorbl.bsky.social · 8h

The leaking is significant, I think.

He has clearly done the right thing, now. But this is not good. At. All.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...

Head of the U.S. Military’s Southern Command Is Stepping Down, Officials Say

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

timoconnorbl.bsky.social @timoconnorbl.bsky.social · 8h

When a full admiral, in charge of a major command where there is a sudden peak of activity and of unlawful activity, unexpectedly steps down, that is very much not a good sign.

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 10h

i mean, i don't think it's a mystery NYT

The military commander overseeing the Pentagon’s escalating attacks against boats in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration says are smuggling drugs is stepping down, two U.S. officials said on Thursday.

The officer, Adm. Alvin Holsey, is leaving his job as head of the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees all operations in Central and South America, even as the Pentagon has rapidly built up some 10,000 forces in the region in what it says is a major counterdrug and counterterrorism mission.

It was unclear why Admiral Holsey is leaving now, less than a year into his tenure, and in the midst of the biggest operation in his 37-year career.

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Anil Dash @anildash.com · 1h

"I have a decent fluency in LLMs, and they have utility, but the absurd degree of over-hype, the way they're being forced on everyone, and the insistence on ignoring the many valid critiques about them make it very difficult to focus on legitimate uses where they might add value."

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Anil Dash @anildash.com · 1h

I get the point that's trying to be made here, but it's actually inaccurate. The *MAJORITY* of actual practitioners in the tech industry have a position that is neither of these, it's merely getting drowned out by these two loud positions. The most common belief in the tech industry is simple:

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 6h

There are basically only two positions in the debate about AI.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.

Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Jessica Ritchey @jmritchey.bsky.social · 6h

If I had explain American history in one sentence, I could do worse than "John Brown was hung for treason, but Robert E. Lee was not."

Jacobin @jacobinmag.bsky.social · 18h

John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry began on this day in 1859.

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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 2h

she literally just posted a video from her office this morning where she can't get into any of the computers without a congressional email account

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7h

Johnson: "Grijalva should be working for her constituents right now. I don't know what she's doing. I keep seeing their political stunt videos. She should be in her office. She should be working or in the district for her constituents" (Grijalva is not in fact a Rep. b/c Johnson refuses to seat her)

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 4h

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 5h

this white house actively treats a large swath of americans as disloyal and outside the political community and it doesn’t merit so much as a peep from the political press

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

Leavitt: "The Democrat Party's main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals."

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utopia deferred @utopia-defer.red · 2h

If you’re already too scared to take photos at public events then they’ve already won. People need to get their shit straight, freaking out about this post is just mass hysteria by a different name.

Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 14h

Take a picture of yourself at the No Kings rally.

Print it.

Put it in a frame.

Your grandchildren will speak about you for generations to come. You took a stand against fascism. You stood up for democracy.

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 2h

Swearing in isn’t some ceremony. You aren’t a member of Congress until it happens. He knows that.

No phones, no staff, nothing.

I had to escort her into the Capitol on Wed bc Capitol police must treat her as a public visitor until she’s sworn in. And solo visitors aren’t allowed during shutdown!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7h

Johnson: "Grijalva should be working for her constituents right now. I don't know what she's doing. I keep seeing their political stunt videos. She should be in her office. She should be working or in the district for her constituents" (Grijalva is not in fact a Rep. b/c Johnson refuses to seat her)

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unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 4h

If anyone's wondering how this is possible, the answer is these strike teams are moving terrifyingly fast. Grab first, ask questions later. We were about 8-15 minutes behind them today for several hours. They're jumping out of vans, chasing people across lawns, taking them from bus stops, etc

maureen @maureenf.bsky.social · 5h

30 people disappeared in this shaded area today.

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mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 2h

I've talked to many people here in San Diego who have progressive politics but were discouraged from participating in the last two rallies because they think they are dangerous black bloc riots.

At the last one I took my four year old kid who was a big hit among the many 70 year old ladies

Benny 666-Cults @teeveeben.bsky.social · 2h

lol people HATE this post so much but actually you can safely do this

There’s going to be several million people at these protests. If you’re not doing crimes, if you’re standing with a bunch of retirees in front of the mall or wherever, you can take the picture and share it.

Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 14h

Take a picture of yourself at the No Kings rally.

Print it.

Put it in a frame.

Your grandchildren will speak about you for generations to come. You took a stand against fascism. You stood up for democracy.

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Brad Duplessis @bradduplessis.bsky.social · 4h

And there you have it. These strikes are clearly not legal. Pete will push commanders aside until he finds one who won’t question these extrajudicial killings. #SOUTHCOM

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Noam "Free Link" Law-msky @noamlaw.bsky.social · 5h

it’s high time we kicked all of the sex pests—past and present—out of the Democratic Party

Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 5h

Cuomo…. said Bill Clinton was his favorite modern president. Fascinating.

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Hannah Pumpkins 🎃 🍂 @hannahposts.bsky.social · 6h

Our nation is awash in childless parents

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10h

RFK Jr: "Today the average teenager in this country has 50% of the sperm count, 50% of the testosterone of a 65 year old man. Our girls are hitting puberty 6 years early ... our parents aren't having children."

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Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke.bsky.social · 6h

Mamdani links noise to congestion, basically affirming my “Cities aren’t loud, cars are loud” line.

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Max Read @maxread.info · 17h

"pissed-off rural left-libertarian man" is one of the types of guy most underrepresented in politics compared to its commonality in the real world

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Max Read @maxread.info · 17h

"anti-patriotic gun-owning veteran psychedelic-taking small-business owner" is actually an extremely common Maine Type and it won't hurt Platner unless he lets it

www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...

In another Reddit post that year, Platner reflected on his life after his military service, saying he was “a vegetable growing, psychedelics taking socialist these days. After the war, I’ve pretty much stopped believing in any of the patriotic nonsense that got me there in the first place, and am a firm believer that the best thing a person can do is help their neighbors and live a loving life.”

“Still got the guns though,” he added. “I don’t trust the fascists to act politely.”

In his interview with CNN, Platner wanted to assure voters: “I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I own a small business. I’m a Marine Corps veteran.”

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geoffrey, 💀 mode @parsnip.bsky.social · 10h

boys will be boys! sometimes kids say edgy things online! it's what kids do!

New York Magazine @nymag.com · 12h

Newly surfaced internet comments made by Graham Platner — he once identified as a Communist, and railed against police — present the Maine senate candidate with his first real test.

Graham Platner’s Honeymoon Is Over

Newly surfaced internet comments made by Graham Platner — he once identified as a Communist, and railed against police — present the Maine senate candidate with his first real test.

nymag.com

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Topher Brennan (he/they) @topherbrennan.bsky.social · 10h

Probably he's telling the truth about getting lucky but it would be hilarious if he secretly learned to count cards for fun (in spite of absolutely not needing the money, given his other income). bsky.app/profile/edsb...

BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL @edsbs.bsky.social · 14h

frontrunner www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Gov. JB Pritzker won $1.4 million in Vegas playing blackjack

The billionaire Illinois governor, who is on the 2028 presidential short list, reported the earnings in his latest tax filings after playing blackjack at a Las Vegas casino.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Topher Brennan (he/they)

Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 12h

this sucks. especially since identifying as a communist is innocuous, and railing against police is good.

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 12h

Yeah, this has the hallmarks of a coordinated effort to undermine Graham Platner’s candidacy. Political operatives—almost certainly Dems in this case—call up their media contacts and feed them material they hope will be compromising. That’s how this works. It’s very ugly and happens again and again.

NEW ORK
New York Magazine @nymag.com
Newly surfaced internet comments made by Graham Platner — he once identified as a Communist, and railed against police — present the Maine senate candidate with his first real test

[photo of Graham Platner]

Graham Platner's Honeymoon Is
Over
Newly surfaced internet comments made by Graham Platner — he once identified...

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